Why does pH level rise so fast in aquariums?

Answer 1

Hey there, All fish are different and can live in different PH levels. But when the PH becomes too high it is toxic and becomes majorly acidic or basic. Some factors might be that ur using poor quality food, Not enough regular water changes, filter medium might need changing or cleaning and ammonia. Basically speaking if u have a fish that is meant to be at a PH of 7 (neutral) And ur PH is 5.7 it can really damage the fish because it is too acidic, it can damage the slimy coating on ur fish and make it open for disease and infections. Because it doesnt have that protective barrier. Same goes the other way for example 8.5 . I hope that has helped. Got any more questions? message me on www.myspace.com/wahbeagle Cheers! :oD

Answer 2

because if the pH is too high, the water will be acidic....if its too low it will be alkali

Whatever creatures are living in the aquarium, their bodies will require a certain pH so that the necessary chemical reactions to sustain their bodies can be carried out. If the pH is too high or too low the enzymes that catalyze the reactions will be denatured so the reactions wont take place fast enough to sustain the animal.

Answer 3

Your pH level should not rise fast if you are leaving it alone.

• If you are adding a pH down component or an acid to try and lower your pH then your water might have a high alkalinity naturally and buffer out these acids that you added. This raises your pH and it can happen rapidly and is unhealthy for your fish and invertebrates.

• Another cause of rapidly rising pH in an aquarium is a carbonate based substrate such as aragonite, crushed coral. Yet again if you have a rock or other natural ornamental scape in your aquarium it may contain alkaline materials that raise pH.

• And the last answer for the more advanced planted aquarists is when your CO2 injection stoppes pH levels rise fast. You may also notice that at a steady and high rate of injection pH still continues to rise.

  In the first case your CO2 is out gassing to the air and you really don't need to worry about the pH fluctuation because it is not a bother to fish if they have enough dissolved oxygen. In the second case your water has alkaline buffers in it. Maybe you have a piece of your hardscape decomposing from the acidic CO2 and contributing to the overall alkalinity. Or you quite possibly have hard alkaline water to start with.